Kamala Harris supporter assaulted during rally in York City

York County Democrats are calling the attack of a Kamala Harris supporter an act of unprovoked political violence. 

(This article has been updated to include information given by the York City Police Department.)

A Kamala Harris supporter was brutally attacked during a rally in York City on Thursday, prompting the York County Democrats to release a statement condemning the incident as an act of political violence. 

“Earlier today, a Democratic supporter was violently assaulted in Continental Square in York while they were participating in a rally showing support for Vice President Harris and the Democratic slate of candidates,” a statement released by the York County Democrats said. 

“This is yet another act of senseless, unprovoked political violence which has been seen across this county, state, and nationally.”

Statement from York Dems Chair on Violent Attack in York Square Today pic.twitter.com/Ef02Wo0FfW

— York County(PA) Dems (@YorkCountyDems) September 26, 2024

The elderly man, who is spending the night in the hospital for evaluation, was attacked while holding a Kamala Harris sign during a rally supporting Harris and the local slate of candidates.

According to multiple sources on the scene, the man was shoved to the ground, hitting his head on the curb, and was then punched multiple times by the assailant, who has not been identified yet, as the victim was lying on the ground.  

The attack was witnessed by Mark Temons, a Democratic candidate running for the Pennsylvania Senate in York and Cumberland Counties, and Dan Almoney, a Democratic candidate running for the Pennsylvania House in York County. 

Temons told The Keystone that he did not see what started the confrontation, but explained that the assailant was taunting the crowd and then shoved the victim to the ground. 

“I did not see that initial attack. I was about 20 feet away, but with my back turned, we’re all looking out at the cars and I turned around, saw [the victim] on the road, and this gentleman was sort of straddling him,” Temons said in an interview. 

“My initial impression was that this victim had fallen and this gentleman was helping him up, but then he took a couple of wild swings at the victim’s head as he was laying there, at which point I yelled and ran over and then the guy ran away from me.”

The assailant then took off, hurling racial epithets at those who attended the rally but was chased down by Almoney and others until he was apprehended by York City Police. 

“While easy to point fingers and blame, the reality is this must end now! When we can’t even have one of the basic rights to assemble and of free speech without being physically attacked, it is not just one individual being harmed but the entirety of our democracy,” the York County Democrats’ statement said.

According to York Daily Record, York City Police stated that they do not believe the attack was politically motivated and cited the assailant’s previous behavior. Robert Trotta, 59, was charged with simple assault.